By Liz Yates—
HARTFORD CITY—Indiana University Health is excited to have expanded its Lung Cancer Screening Program to IU Health Blackford Hospital in Hartford City, IN.
This program has existed for ten years beginning at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in 2012. Since that time, the program has provided over 2,865 screenings and has been successful in diagnosing over 56 lung cancer cases – with most of those cases being either stage I or II.
Lung cancer continues to be one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in the United States, and that remains to be true at the IU Health Cancer Center in Muncie, IN. It is also the deadliest. Smoking is the number one contributor to lunch cancer, and unfortunately East Central Indiana continues to have one of the highest smoking rates in Indiana.
That is why it is so important to offer lung cancer screenings far and wide, to reach as many Indiana residents as possible. Residents in Blackford County and beyond will now be able to have a $49 low dose CT scan of their lungs conveniently offered right in their backyard at IU Health Blackford Hospital.
“We hope offering this program closer to home for some Indiana residents will encourage more heavy smokers to be screened for lung cancer,” said Joseph Primavera, service line leader – oncology for the IU Health East Central Region. “All participants screened at IU Health Blackford will become part of the lung cancer screening program and will provided with follow-up and support for any of the findings. IU Health’s vision is to make Indiana one of the nation’s healthiest states, and that starts with making life saving tests more widely available to all Hoosiers.”
Community members can make an appointment for a lung cancer screening at any of the following locations:
- The Imaging Center – 2598 W White River Blvd, Muncie, IN. 47303
- IU Health Jay Hospital – 500 W Votaw St, Portland, IN. 47371
- IU Health Blackford Hospital – 410 Pilgram Blvd, Hartford City, IN. 47348
Appointments can by scheduled at any location by calling one convenient number: 765.751.2727.
